We have sufficient fuel, Kachikwu assures Nigerians (Nation)
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu on Sunday assured Nigerians that there is sufficient Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as fuel in the country. Kachikwu in an Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the country had gone past the era of fuel scarcity and urged motorists to desist from panic buying. “I can say that there shouldn’t be any reason for fuel scarcity, we have gone past the era of fuel scarcity. “NNPC informed me when I made inquires that they imported enough. Read more
Kachikwu’s aide replies Falana, as minister shuns lawyer’s query on $60bn oil revenue loss (Punch)
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has acknowledged the request by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), for the details of the loss of about $60bn oil revenue due to Nigeria. Falana had made the request on the strength of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 through his letter dated April 10, 2019 and received by Kachikwu’s office on April 11. He threatened to sue the minister if his demand was not met within seven days of receiving his letter as prescribed by the FoI Act. Read more
PDP plotting secret voting to take over 9th National Assembly, APC senators-elect allege (Nation)
Some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators-elect are suspecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting a secret ballot voting system to hijack the leadership of the National Assembly. APC senators-elect, who pleaded anonymity, said the PDP was perfecting this plot ahead of the inauguration of the 9th session in June. There is disquiet in PDP itself as interest groups root for different candidates as the next minority leader of the Red Chamber. Three candidates are already in contention for the position. They are the current deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and Senator Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central). Read more
Banditry: Yari urges army, other security agencies to sustain operations in Zamfara (Nation)
Gov. Abdula’ziz Yari of Zamfara has called on the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to sustain their ongoing operations against bandits operating in the state. Yari’s call is contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s acting Director-General, Press Affairs, Malam Bashir Kabir. Kabir said that Yari made the call at a meeting with the Force Commander of the Operation Sharan Daji, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki at the Government House Gusau on Saturday. Kabir also said that the governor congratulated the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the state for the good work they were doing in trying to check the activities of the bandits. Read more
Police kill nine armed robbery suspects along Abuja- Kaduna Highway (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force said it had killed nine suspected members of a notorious armed robbery gang at Akilbu forest, off Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. A statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, on Sunday in Abuja, said this followed an exchange of gunfire between the police and members of the gang on April 10. Mba said that items recovered from the robbers include: six Ak47 Rifles; one Pump Action Gun; 1,206 rounds of Ak47 ammunition; seven Magazines; 28 Cartridges and 158 expended shells. Read more
Supreme Court receives records on appeal by Zamfara governor-elect, others (Nation)
The Supreme Court has received the records of proceedings at the lower courts in relation to the appeal filed by Zamfara State’s governor-elect, Mukhtar Idris and 37 others, against the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Sokoto. The compilation and transmission of records by an appellant, and the receipt of such records by the Supreme Court are major requirements for a competent appeal. The Court of Appeal in Sokoto had, in a judgment some weeks ago, faulted the primary elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state prior to the last general elections. Read more
Sokoto chapter passes Vote of no Confidence on APC National Vice Chairman (Nation)
The Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Sokoto state and party Chairmen across the 23LGs of the state as well all the state and National Assembly elected APC members unanimously passed a vote of no confidence against the party’s Northwest National Vice Chairman, Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir. The decision was sequel to the sustained and flagrant anti-party activities by the party official. However, the State Executive Committee reached the decision at a meeting of the party which was also attended by the Chairmen of the party in all the twenty-three local governments of the state. Read more
We need to know why bandits are not attacking rich Zamfara gold miners –Marafa (Punch)
The bandits keep on killing your people in Zamfara State despite your outcry. How do you feel about it? I want to start by thanking Nigerians from all walks of life who came out to protest peacefully against the wanton killing and destruction currently taking place in Zamfara State. This has once again awakened the national spirit that is inherent in Nigerians. I also commend the Federal Government for taking some proactive measures that could curtail the problems. We now have heavy presence of the various security agencies and the military there now. Read more
12,000 Boko Haram victims benefit from VSF medical programme (Guardian)
Dr Sunday Ochoche, the Executive Director, Victims Support Fund (VSF) said that no fewer than 12,000 victims of Boko Haram insurgency benefited from its medical support programme. He disclosed this while featuring on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) flagship programme NAN Forum in Abuja. Ochoche said the agency was closely working with the hospitals where such programmes are offered by having VSF desk and capturing the data of beneficiaries. The VSF boss said the devastating impact on victims arising from the Boko Haram attacks have reduced due to the intervention of the organisation. Read more
CAN urges sacrificial living as Nigerians mark Palm Sunday (Punch)
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter, on Sunday urged Christians to take advantage of the significance of Palm Sunday to imbibe the culture of living a life of sacrifice. Chairman of the branch Pastor Benjamin Akanmu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan. Akanmu also urged Christians to emulate the humility, love, and selfless service of Jesus Christ, which made Him to die on the cross for the salvation of mankind. He called on Christians to live a life of positive impact in the society and to draw people to Christ even as they do what those things that would be acceptable before God. Read more
Gridlock: Task Force clamps down on illegal traders (Nation)
Operatives of both the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Taskforce) Unit and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has jointly dislodged all illegal trading activities on road setbacks and walk-ways around Ikeja. The Agency has also served 72hrs notice to food vendors who are in the habit of blocking off Awolowo Road opposite Airport Hotel, Ikeja to desist from preventing residents to gain access to their respective home every night as such act contravene the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law. Read more
Fire ruins 35 shops in Kurmin Yan-nama market, Kano (Punch)
The Kano State Fire Service says 35 temporary shops have been destroyed by fire at Kurmin Yan-nama Market in Kano State. The spokesman of the service, Saidu Mohammed, confirmed the incident while speaking with newsmen in Kano on Sunday. He said 27 of the shops were completely razed, while eight were slightly burnt. “We received a distress call in the early hours of Sunday at about 04:56 a.m. from one Ado Musa that there was fire outbreak at the market. Read more
Nigerian embassies need to do more — Finland (Nation)
Mr Olu Raheem, the Business Finland’s Trade Commissioner in West Africa, on Sunday said that Nigerian embassies should be made to do more to attract more businesses to the country. Raheem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the embassies should mostly engage in facilitating more businesses rather than concentrate on promoting political and diplomatic relations. The Finnish official also suggested that a dedicated desk be established in every Nigerian mission for them to easily access information about opportunities in Nigeria. Read more
Algeria protests: Youth lead the movement for change (BBC)
Towering over the struggle for the future of Algeria is a symbol of its past. Protesters gather in the shadow of the ornate Grande Poste, or post office – a French colonial landmark in central Algiers. Some say that having broken free of colonial rule in 1962, Algerians are fighting for their independence all over again, this time from a hated and sclerotic regime. Friday is now the main day of protest, when demonstrators occupy the steps outside the Grand Poste, spilling over into the central square in front. Read more
Brexit: Cross-party talks ‘testing ideas’ says Lidington (BBC)
The government and Labour are “testing out” each other’s ideas as they try to resolve the Brexit deadlock, cabinet minister David Lidington has said. He told the BBC they had a “fair bit in common” over future customs objectives but further compromise was needed. While there was no deadline, he said the sides would “take stock” in 10 days and the process could not drag out. But former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the process was a “recipe for disaster” for his party. Read more
Assange will cooperate with Sweden, but fight US warrant —Lawyer (Punch)
Julian Assange would cooperate with Swedish authorities if they reopen a rape case against him but will continue to resist any bid to extradite him to the United States, his lawyer said Sunday. “We are absolutely happy to answer those queries if and when they come up,” Jennifer Robinson told Sky News television about the rape claims. “The key issue at the moment is US extradition, which we have warned about for many years,” she added. The WikiLeaks founder is in custody in London awaiting sentencing for breaching his British bail conditions in 2012 by seeking refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden. Read more
Ukraine election: Poroshenko debates empty podium as Zelensky stays away (BBC)
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has arrived to debate the man hoping to take his place, in front of thousands of people in the capital, Kiev. There is only one problem: his rival Volodymyr Zelensky – a comedian with no political experience – hasn’t arrived. The two men agreed to the televised debate last week, but failed to agree on the date it would take place. Mr Zelensky favoured this coming Friday, two days before they go head to head in the election run-off. Read more
Modi says India undermined Pakistan nuclear threat (Guardian)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that India had called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff in recent cross-border air strikes that almost triggered a new war between the nuclear-armed rivals. Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have made national security the focus of their campaign for a national election now being held. The prime minister told an election rally that an air strike inside Pakistan in February had shown that warnings hostilities could escalate into nuclear conflict were false. Read more
World War Two bomb detonated in Frankfurt’s river (BBC)
A World War Two-era US bomb has been detonated in a river in Frankfurt, causing water to spurt high into the air, German media report. Some 600 people were evacuated from parts of the city as bomb disposal experts got to work at about 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday. Following the explosion, divers were sent to check that the device was safe. The bomb was discovered on Tuesday in Frankfurt’s River Main, German news agency dpa reports. Divers with the city’s fire service were participating in a routine training exercise when they found the 250kg (550lb) device. Read more
Three killed in aircraft runway accident near Everest (Punch)
A small plane veered off the runway and hit two helicopters while taking off near Mount Everest on Sunday, killing three people and injuring three, officials said. The accident happened at Lukla airport which is the main gateway to the Everest region and is reputed to be one of the most difficult in the world for landings and take-offs. A co-pilot from the Let-410 run by Summit Air bound for Kathmandu and a police officer on the ground were killed on the spot, Lukla airport official Ema Nath Adhikari told AFP. Another policeman died in hospital in Kathmandu, a police spokesman confirmed. Read more
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp suffer outages (BBC)
Social networks Facebook and Instagram, as well as messaging service WhatsApp, were unavailable on Sunday for more than three hours, users said. The website Down Detector reported that thousands of people globally had complained about the Facebook-owned trio being down from 11.30 BST onwards. Facebook users were presented with the message: “Something went wrong.” At 14:50, the site said it had resolved the issue after some users “experienced trouble connecting” to the apps. A spokesman for the company added: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience.” Read more
Animal charity rescues 47 cats from elderly woman’s flat (Metro)
It took three days for animal welfare officers to rescue 47 cats from a flat in London. The three Celia Hammond Animal Trust workers were shocked when they found the animals hiding in every corner of the property in Clerkenwell. Welfare officer James Elford, 38, told the Islington Tribune: ‘When we were called out we were told there was going to be 60 cats and I took a double breath after the call. ‘I was worried that there was going to be sick and dying kittens. Luckily, there were fewer cats but it was still shocking to see so many in a small space.’ Read more
‘It’s embarrassing!’ – Mbappe’s father fed up with Real Madrid rumours (Goal)
Kylian Mbappe’s father says the constant media speculation surrounding the Paris Saint-Germain star has become “embarrassing”. The 20-year-old has been hailed as one of the world’s most promising players amid his incredible form in Ligue 1 and for France’s national team. Although he is just a year into his contract with the capital club, the forward is continuously linked to a move Real Madrid, who are looking to replenish their attack after selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus last season. Read more
Guardiola has no intention of matching Hodgson’s longevity (Punch)
Pep Guardiola laughed off suggestions that he may be tempted to match Roy Hodgson’s remarkable longevity in the game as he prepares to pit his wits against the 71-year-old Crystal Palace manager. The Manchester City boss has made no secret of his wish to pursue interests outside football, although he has refused to put a “finishing” date on his coaching career. Guardiola’s current City contract is due to expire in 2021, which would take him to five years with the Premier League side, the longest single spell of service in his three-club managerial career. Read more
Arsenal loanee Nelson breaks Firmino record with latest Hoffenheim strike (Goal)
The 19-year-old helped Julian Nagelsmann’s team to three points against Hertha Berlin by scoring his seventh league goal this season Reiss Nelson has become the youngest Hoffenheim player to score seven Bundesliga goals, breaking the previous record set by Roberto Firmino in 2012. The winger, on loan at the Bundesliga side from Arsenal, netted his side’s second in a 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin, heading home a Nico Schulz with 15 minutes left. At 19 years and 125 days old, Nelson has reached the tally 225 days younger than Brazil forward Firmino was when he did while on his way to netting 49 goals for the Germans before sealing a move to Liverpool. Read more
Novak Djokovic gives verdict on whether Roger Federer can win the French Open (Metro)
Roger Federer may not have played a clay-court match for three years but Novak Djokovic still believes he is capable of winning the French Open this season. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not appeared at Roland Garros since 2015 but is due to return to the dirt this year. His first stop will be in Madrid before heading to Paris for the second major tournament of the season. Djokovic – the winner of the past three Grand Slams – will surely enter the clay-court Slam as the second favourite behind Rafael Nadal – the 11-time champion on the Parisien crushed brick – but the Serb warned that 2009 winner Federer can still be a contender. Read more